Lions knock off Argos 33-17 (with photos)

B.C. Lions' Emmanuel Arceneaux (84) dives to haul in a pass in front of Toronto Argonauts defensive back Jalil Carter (19) during first half CFL action in Toronto on Sunday August 17, 2014

Photograph by: Frank Gunn
, THE CANADIAN PRESS

Andrew Harris had not missed a game since becoming the B.C. Lions’ feature back three years ago. But just to remind people that he once held that designation before leaving for the National Football League, Stefan Logan lit up the evening like a lightning bug Sunday.

The five-foot-six dynamo from Miami, starting at tailback in place of the injured Harris, scored the only touchdown of the first half, on a three-yard run, and finished the game with 194 yards on 24 touches as the Lions got past a tired Toronto team, 33-17, at Rogers Centre.

The victory, the fifth in the past six games for B.C., moved the Lions to 5-3 in the Canadian Football League’s ultracompetitive West Division while the Argos dropped to 3-5 yet still lead the East.

The result was in doubt into fourth quarter when the Argos, playing for the second time in five days, took their first lead of the game when quarterback Ricky Ray threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Terrell Sinkfield.

The Lions narrowed Toronto’s lead to 17-16, on the third field goal of the game from Paul McCallum, following a 39-yard pass-and-run play from quarterback Kevin Glenn to Courtney Taylor.

After McCallum’s fourth field goal put the Lions in front again, 19-17, Glenn administered the coup de grace with 6:47 left. The Lions quarterback, who suffered a thigh contusion last Friday against Hamilton, and was limping during the game, combined with Manny Arceneaux on a 53-yard touchdown strike to put it away for the Lions.

Rookie cornerback Ronnie Yell completed the fourth quarter implosion by the Argos with a 30-yard interception return touchdown. Yell’s pick was one of two thrown by Ray.

Tim Brown, drawing into the lineup because of Harris’s injury, and making only his second start of the season, had a nifty 70-yard punt return that he nearly took all the way to set up Logan’s touchdown. He also had a 68-yard punt return in the second half.

Altogether, Brown had 249 yards on 13 punt and kickoff returns. He was given the special teams game ball.

As for Logan, he had not played at Rogers Centre since Oct. 3, 2008, when he ran for 144 yards and scored a touchdown on a 10-yard catch. That was his one-and-done year in the CFL before he left to play four seasons in the NFL.

Concerns that he perhaps had lost a half step this season were put to rest when Logan had 10 touches for 82 yards in the opening 30 minutes. His breakdown was 19 rushes for 145 yards and five catches for 49 more.

“He (Logan) told me, ‘Coach, I told you there wouldn’t be any drop-off (from Harris),’” Benevides explained. “When they made him, they broke the mold. The guy loves to play. He’s 33 years old. He works hard, he makes plays. Here were are again, talking about the tailback in our system getting 200 yards. He was outstanding.”

Without Logan’s contribution, the Lions’ offence would have been on full sputter mode in the first half. The Argos had four sacks in the opening 30 minutes, but Ray was just as beleaguered against a Lions’ front four featuring rookie defensive end Alex Bazzie.

Going into the game with six sacks in his past four games, Bazzie got his seventh in the first quarter to start the Argos off with a quick two-and-out. He also had four tackles for loss -- giving him eight for the season -- and seven tackles altogether. If the 24-year-old from Marshall was on the fringes of rookie of the year consideration before, he’s certainly in the middle of the discussion now.

“Most definitely, I’ve seeing the progress from game to game,” Bazzie explained. “It’s a big adjustment from the college game. You’ve got to take time away from the (practice) facility, to take care of yourself, to watch film, to learn the system and learn the defence. You’ve got to do a lot of things on your own now. You have to show initiative to be a better player.”

With Glenn not lighting it up in the first half, Travis Lulay made his first two appearances of the 2014 season and was caught in the backfield twice by defensive lineman Tristan Okpalaugo. Lulay didn’t throw a pass and was pummeled by Cleyon Laing, who landed on the quarterback’s shoulder, at least proving that Lulay can take a hit, months after shoulder surgery.

“I wanted to get him (Lulay) in, depending on how the game was going,” Benevides said. “At least he got to feel the speed of the game. The good part is, last week he was on the sidelines. This week, he got in. He got hit. We’ll just move on from there and keep growing.”

Glenn finished the game with 208 passing yards and moved past Doug Flutie into eighth place all-time in career totals. The 14-year veteran stands at 41,423 yards.

END ZONE: Torri Williams, replacing injured nickelback Josh Johnson, twice had penalties (illegal contact, unnecessary roughness) on the Argos’ first two scoring drives of the first half. His 15-yard penalty, when he pushed wide receiver Robert Gill needlessly out of bounds, led to a 34-yard Swayze Waters’ field goal. Williams was parked after his third infraction -- a roughing the passer penalty -- just before the end of the third quarter . . . Rookie wide side cornerback T.J. Lee, playing because of an injury to veteran Dante Marsh, was tested repeatedly by Ray in the first half. He had an end-zone breakup on a pass to Spencer Watt that forced the Argos to settle for a field goal. Lee also caused a turnover when he stripped Darvin Adams of the football after a catch. Lee and the veteran halfback who plays next to him, Ryan Phillips, were both born in Seattle and played college football at Eastern Washington . . . Argos had only one practice following Tuesday’s 38-21 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers . . . Lions are 17-2 in their past 19 games against Toronto.

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